Jan 18, 2009

1. 1852: "Schooner Jane Lovett (aka J. Lovett) was driven ashore near Cape Northumberland in September. The passengers and crew, with the exception of the captain, walked to Portland. The captain was murdered in his bunk by looters." Source: Government of South Australia, Shipwrecks and sea rescue: Shipwrecks, 1851-1858, http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/, 7 Jan 2008.

2. The loss of the Jane Lovett in 1852 at MacDonnell Bay is discussed in the Register, 1 June 1852, p. 2, 31 August 1916, p. 9, 24 February 1923, p. 11, Observer, 16 May 1852, p. 5, 5 November 1853, p. 5:

The Jane Lovett, a Yankee schooner bought by Mrs Laura McCarthy for £750, was wrecked in MacDonnell Bay in 1852 while sailing to Adelaide from Melbourne with a cargo of spirits. It was a dark night and Captain Parker thought he had passed Cape Northumberland (these were the days before the light was installed) but the ship struck a reef in the bay and became fixed. In the morning, the mate and four of the crew took a ship’s boat and said they would try to get to Melbourne or Adelaide, but nothing was heard of them, so it was presumed they had perished.

The remainder of the crew elected to walk to the newly formed township of Gambierton but the captain would not leave his ship or cargo and so he was left alone grieving. Tragedy was added to tragedy for, at last when help came, they found the captain had been murdered. They buried him in the sand dunes but when a small cemetery was opened on top of the cape his bones were removed there, where he lies today within sound of his beloved sea. Two hut-keepers, named Crawford and Stephens, believed to be convicts from either New South Wales or Van Diemen’s Land, employed by John McIntyre who held the Mount Schank station, were arrested.

3. "Jane Lovett. Schooner, 138 tons. Captain Broadfoot. Ashore a short distance east of Cape Northumberland when sailing between Melbourne and Adelaide, 19 September 1852. The captain remained on board but the crew and passengers walked to Portland; his body was found in his bunk with his throat cut. Two shepherds who had been plundering the wreck were arrested for murder, but while awaiting trial one escaped from custody, and was blamed by the other. The confessor, Stephens, was taken to Adelaide, but was freed some months later as Crawford was never re-captured. [LS],[#LM],#MM]." South Australian Shipwrecks, Encyclopedia of Australian Shipwrecks. http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/sa-main.html.